Brake



Patented Aug. 27, 1945 BRAKE Christian H. Sauer, Chico, Calif., assgnor to J. T. Alm, Chico, Calif.

Application May 8, 1943, Serial No. 486,174

This invention relates to brakes in general, and more specically t a brake and braking system that is applicable to aA railway car.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an improved braking system in which conventional brakel shoes are actuated by hydraulic or pneumatic means andin which system the actuation ofY said means causes the body of thev vehicle or'railway carto be pulled in a downward direction when the brakes are applied to therebystabilize the car with respect to rocking, swaying or bouncing of the body,r and to al'soincrease the frictional resistance between Athe car and the rails or ground.

Another object of the invention is theprovision of improved means for more eiciently applying the braking force to the wheels of a railway car through a pneumatic or-hydraulic system in which the braking action on a plurality of Wheels in a truck at one end of the car or in all of the wheels of the car is equalized. f

Other objects and advantages will appear in the drawing and description.

In the drawing, I

Fig. 1 is an elevational'view of a set of'wheels on a railway car showing the invention. Partsl are broken away for clarity and only'part of the body is'shown.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the wheels and braking elements of' Fig. 1, with the body removed, and certain parts being in section.

The set of wheels shown in Figs. 1 and 2may constitute all the wheels of a single car, such as some of the small street cars now in use, but generally the same principle is involved in the trucks at opposite ends of a car, some of whichV have three pairs of wheels instead 0f only two pairs. Such modifications as may be required for different systems do not change the general-manner of operationvof this invention, hence the illustrations andA description are not to be considered restrictive of the invention, but are illustrative thereof' instead.

In the drawing, two pairs of Wheels I, 2 are shown on tracks 3, and which wheels may be secured on( the ends of axles @that are journalled at their ends in conventional journal boxes 5 for rotation ofthe wheels.

Side frame members Sconnect the wheels I, 2 at each side of the set, which members may extend between the journal boxes, and cross-frame members T extend between the pairs of wheels and connect said side frame members.

Leaf springs 8 between the body 9 of' the car and' the frame members 6 yieldably support the body on the frame members andwheels; At each end of each side frame member 6 is` azshock absorber device I c that may be of the conventional,

hydraulic, single acting type such as shown andi checked inits upward swingingmovementy by" liquid in the shock absorber device. This typcof` shock absorber in itselfis oldandwell knownto those skilled in the art. v

Theouter end of veach'arm I I is connectedwth the body 9 by a generally verticallydisposed chain or cable I4. The use of a exible connection between each arm II and the body is quite important, and such connectionA may be' aV chai-n, cable, or articulated links; provided upward movement of the arm I I unde1` certain circumstancesis permitted, as will later be described.

Adjacent each of the wheels is a generallyupwardly extending arm I5 that is pivotallyfm-ounted intermediate its ends on a pivot I6. VAbove each pivot I6, each of said arms carries a brake shoe I1 of 4substantially the conventional type. EachV shoe I1 is pivotallysupported on the upper endv of each arm and is yieldably held in position away from the wheel, but with its curved wheel-tread engaging surface generally concentric with the wheel, by means of a spring I8. Spring |18 is-between rods I9, 20, the former being connected with the brake shoe and the latter being secured to thethereto, the shoe I'I will be carried into engagement with the wheel-tread, and upon release of the force on the lower end of each arm- I5, the

shoe will be returned to full line position of Fig. 1 by spring I8 Yand also the arms I5 will be restored to their positions, as shown in Fig. 1.

On the lower end of each arm I5 is a 'pulley 2 Il, and a cable 22 that is secured at one endv tov thel body 9, extends d-ownwardlyacross a side of each pulley and then horizontally to pivotally connect at its opposite end with one end of a link 23. There is a cable for each shoe and the cables thatV pass over the pulleys that are adjacent wheels I are arranged so that'their horizontally extendingend portions extend toward lthe similar portions of the cables that pass over the pulleys that are adjacent wheels 2. y

There are four links 23 (Fig.v 2) arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the vertical mesal plane of the car. The linksat' saidl sides extend' conl vergently toward said plane when the brakes are l released and their divergent ends are the ones,

, connected tothe cables 22. The opposite or convergent ends of the links are pivotally connected j to opposite ends of a pair of parallel spaced bars 1 25. These bars 25 extend at right angles to frame i members.

l One pair of links 23 at one of the ends of bars i 25 are connected intermediate their ends by members 2B, @each of which may be in the form of a turnbuckle havingits opposite screw rods pivoti f ally connected to said links.

, buckle of each member 25 in one direction or the l other, theV ends of said links 23 may be adjusted i relative to each other. .Y ,s

, parallel with sidel-frame.,`

, members 6, slidably support links23 whileuframe v Frame members 21,

By turning the' '..11

members 28 that are also parallelY with sideframe members 5, and that extend between crossframe members 1, slidably support the bars 25.

Betweenjoars25 is an air or hydraulic' cyl* indeIeZSlr having thev conventional piston therein i normally'positioned adjacent the head of the cylinderwithwhich the iiuid pressure line'3ll cont nectsgfor admission of fluid under pressure intoY thefcylinder Abetween said head and piston. A conventionalcoil Vspring inthe cylinder yieldably hol'dsthe rpiston adjacent said head.A This air cylinder piston, and controls therefore are pracalyo'ne skilled in the art;

Piston rod VEII extending from is lpi'votally connected at its outer end with one cfg-the bars 25. at a pointrinterm'ediate the ends ofthe latter', the head of `the cylinder that isnOrmally adjacent the piston is pivotally conticallyv-aslold as air brakes andare familiar to ysaid vcylinder 29 ne'cted with the vother bar 25 as at 32'at a point i intermediate the ends of the latter.

frhe-bargawith which the cylinder head is;

connected maybe connected'with the conventional emergency hand A brake (not shown) through the usual` connecting mechanism that includesrod 33 V(Fig. 2) While a member 34emayextend from the; other bar A25` over the/frame By provid-` member 'I that is adjacentthereto. ingfa hook 35 on the outer-end of member 34,

theemergency brake will function to actuatethe Y vbrakes independently of the use of compressed fluid in'thevcylinder 29. Y Y

ffrStops SIonframe members 28 projecting upward-.ly therefrom'will engage one or more of the v links- 23 'should any one of thev cables 22 break or failto function.: i

In operation, assuming I, the car is moving to wardrthe right, as seen in the drawing, andthe y airis applied through line 30, the head and piston' of the, cylinder, 29 will move apart under equal force. This movement will cause links 23 to pivot on members 26 in a-direction for moving their ldivergent ends `toward each other. This latter movementwill pull cables 22 at each side of the car toward eachother, thereby swinging armsk I5 on their pivots to move the shoes I'II At the j into engagement with` the wheels I, 2. same time, and proportional to the force applied to the brakes, the ycables, 22 will pull the body 9V From the standpoint of preferred structure*v This downward force also serves to skidding or lockl the cylinder 29 'shouid be -noatingiy s,m.-por1;edsol thatth'e brakingfforce fromthaair or uid inl the cylinder may be equally transmitted'to the brakes and to the body.

While Vthe use of turnbuckles 26 provides a quick adjustment of the brakes, Ipreferably pro#- Vvide means for bodily shifting the arms I5 to- Lthe wheels until the brake shoes are properly positioned relative to the'latter. Of course the connections between arms I9 and the brake shoes Vmay also .be adjustable so as to change the anwill be seen that considerable braking force isapplied to the wheels upon pulling the lower ends of the cables 22 through actuation of the links The application of thebrake shoes to the Lipper Vhalf of the wheels I haveiound to be much preferable in its results than by applyingV the the brakes provides amore ef cient braking Vactiongparticularly where a do-wnward force is also` transmittedto thebody 9. Y Y e y,

In I theV arrangement herein Y described, thev means for pulling the body downwardly is associated with the brakes, but the torque from the rotating ,wheels-does not Vhave'. .any particular eiect on the force that pulls downwardlyon'the body.V This principle may be lapplied to any vehicle. having brakes, `such as automobiles, trailers, etc., and while not aseifective in `such latter vehicles as the systems shown in. my copending application for` patents:aboveqnentionedg;

it does ltend to stabilize the Vbody'during braking. Theshock absorbenelementsl will be Vseen toV function'upon application of the brakes in restricting the objectionable upward movement of the body and rockingV or swaying that occurs,A C

vices also .prevent sudden upward movementpt.

the body when the brakes are released. .The

Varrangement of these elements I0. is also such the shifting of loads in .the car aswell as reducel ing :the wear and tear on cars. y

In the claims and description the use of the `termv fluid pressure is intended to include low airpressure such as a partial vacuum, as well asto hydraulic pressure and positive high air pressure above atmospheric pressure. Y Y Having described my invention, I claim:

' l. In a wheelmounted vehicle including all;

spring supported body carried by the wheels and vbrakes for the latter, a uid 'pressure actuated v mechanism including an element connected withY said brakes Vand movable in one direction under the influence of lsaid fluid pressure for applyingk said brakes, a body depressing member connected with said body and with said element, means mounting said member for downward movement yupon said movement of said element in said one direction whereby'said member will pull down-1 wardly on said .body when said brakes are applied by actuation of saidy li'uid pressure mechanism, saidk element being actuatable bysaid` fluid pres-`v surej for applying saidv brakes and: for so moving said'. member independentlyI of .the torque. force transmit-ted' to. said brakes by said wheels rwhen the latter are-rotatingand the brakes. are applied;

'2, In a 'vehicle' having front and rear. wheels, axles for said wheels, brakes. for said rear wheels; a'.- frame .carryingsaidaxles andY brakes, a body, and. springs yieldably supporting. saidlbody on element under fluid pressureandim'eans connecting saidj brakes. and said'member tosaidelen'ient'Y for somoving said brakesv and saidxmember.

6,;- In a railway car` having railengaging'wlreelsy supporting a frame .and springsv supporting .said bodyon .said frame ;r brakeA shoes'respectively sup. ported on saidf'rame for movement.v into andzout i of: :frictional Vengagement with the peripheral saidframe; as fluid pressure actuated mechanismv `carried byusaid frame for applying said brakes, and. a movablel body depressing member con-J nested with' said fluid pressure mechanism. and said bodyv` for Vpulling saidl body downwardly against theresistance of usaid springs upon. actuation of said mechanism for applying said brakes, said.. fluid pressure mechanism including an element supported on said frame for` reciprocable movement and said memberfbeing connected with said element for movement therewith.

3.. In a vehicle having front and rear wheels, axles for said Wheels, brakes for said rear wheels, avframe carryingr said axles and brakes, a body, and springs yieldably supporting said body on said frame; a fluid pressure actuated mechanism carried byi said frame for applying said brakes, and` a movable body depressing member connected with saidi fluid* pressure mechanism and said body forpulling said body downwardly against the resistance of said springs upon actuation of saidA mechanism for applying said brakes, said huid pressure mechanismV including an element supported on said frame for reciprooable movement and. said member being connected with said element for movement therewith, said member being a flexible link secured at one of its ends to said element and secured at its opposite end to said body. 4A In a vehiclehaving front and rear wheels, axles-for saidV wheels, brakesfor said rear wheels, a frame carrying said axles and-brakes, a body, and springs yieldably supporting said body on saidframe; means supporting said brakes for generally oscillatory movement to and from wheel braking position; a fluid pressure actuated member supported on said frame for generally reciprocatory movement connected with said means and with said` body for simultaneously causing said oscillatory movement of said brakesV in one direction to said position and for drawing said body downwardly against the resistance of said springs upon application of fluid pressure to said member for actuating the latter, fluid pressure means connected with said member for so actuating the latter, and means supporting said member on said frame for downward movement of the portion thereof that is connected with said body when said member isactuated for causing application of said brakes.

5. In a railway car having rail engaging wheels supporting 'a frame and springs supporting said tread portions of said wheels, av body depressing member secured to '.said body and extending. downwardly therefrom, a` fluid pressure actuated element' movably supported. onv saidy frame and connected. with said vshoes and with said.v member' for.simultaneously movingsaid shoes.' into engagement with said treadv portions and for mov-- ing saidl member downwardly upon actuation of'. said element under fluid pressure, andmeansconnecting said brakes` and said memberv to said ele-y ment for somoving said brakesand said-member, said lastmentioned means including an arm pivotally supporting each of said brake'shoes-Lfor carrying the latter into kengagement withlsaid treadV portions respectively upon pivoting eaclr arm, and a link connecting one end of said a-rnr to said element and to one end of said member.

"1?. In. a railway car having rail engaging wheels? supporting a frame and springs supporting said?y body on said frame; arms pivotally supported intermediate their ends on said frame atzpointsadjacent said wheels; a brake shoe on one end of .each arm movable`4 into' engagement. with thewheel` adjacent theretol upon swingingthe oppo-l site endof `each arm in one direction.;l a fluid pres-- sure actuated mechanism connected ywith said opposite end of each arm for so swinging said`V latter end,v anda link extending downwardly from said body andconnected with said mechanism.- and witl'isaid opposite end of each arm adapted' to beurged downwardlyupon said swinging ofysaid oppositeend of said arm for depressing said bdy against theA resistance of said springs simultaneously with application of said brakes.

8. In a' railway car having rail engaging wheels supportingr a frame and springs supporting said bodyfon said frame; arms pivotally supported intermediate their ends on said frame at points adjacent said wheels; a brake shoe onf one endl of each arm movable into engagement with the wheelY adjacent thereto upon swinging the opposite end of each arm in one direction; said opposite end of each arm extending generally downwardlyl from the pivot supporting the same; a pulley carried by each arm at its saidopposlte end; llexible links connected at one of their ends to said body and respectively extending downwardly therefrom and over each of said pulleys andrthen laterally-to fluid actuated elements respectively movable under the influence of fluid pressure for drawing said links against said pulleys-whereby said' arms will be pivoted t0a apply the brakes and to simultaneously draw said body downwardly when said elements are so.. actuated, means securing said links 'to said elements, and fluid'` pressure means for so actu-v ating said elements. f l

9. In a vehicle having,l axlesV provided with body supportingwheels thereon, a body, and. springs supporting said body on said axles; a frame carried 1by said axles; brake shoes carried' on saidY frame adjacent' said wheels mounted` forv movement into and out of frictional engagement with the wheels; means securing said shoes. to said frame against movement together with said: Wheels when said shoesiare in engagement there-A with; a; body. depressing. element securedv to said body and adapted to draw said body downward'- ly against the resistance'of 'said springs upon downward movement of said yelement;4 a member j securedgrto said brakes 'movable'in one direction' for applying said brakes to said wheels; apower actuated mem-ber connected to said, element and l to said member arranged and adapted torsirnultaneously move said element downwardly and to move said element in'Y said one direction vupon l application of power to said member.

10.111V a vemeiehav'ing axles provided with `body supportingpwheels Ythereon, a body, and

springssupporting said` body on saidaxles; a"

on said frame adjacent said wheelsvmounted for taneously move said element downwardly andato move said element4 in said one direction upon applicationof power to said member, said brakes being carried on said frame adjacent the uppermost portions of the tread surfaces of said wheels for movement into frictional engagement with frame carried by said raxles;lbrake shoes carried f pressreintosaid cylinderbetween'said head and said piston; means'connecting the brake shoes adjacent one of said adjacent pairs of Wheels to said cylindenand' means Yconnecting the brake shoes YadjacentV thev other of said.` adjacent Vpairs j of wheels to saidpis'tonfrod for simultaneously Y applying said shoesl to said wheelsrwhenuid is admitted into said cylinder; thev said means re Spectively connecting said shoes to'said head and toisaid piston rod being arranged .and adapted s to apply said brakes whensaid rod and cylinder are simultaneouslymoved oppositely', la iiexible connection. between` said bodyand said piston rod actuatable -by'movement of said piston under said fluid pressure for pulling said body downwardly against the resistance of said springs; means mounting said link relative to said piston rod and body for so moving said body.

V13; A railway car comprising a spring lsup=A ported body mounted on rail rengaging wheels and air operated brakes for said wheels including generally reciprocable air pressure actuated elements connected with said brakes; links extending downwardly from said body and connected'to said elements; means mounting said links'for downwardY movement upon reciprocation `of said elements under air pressure for applyingY` said Ybrakes whereby said body will be pulled down-Y wardly upon applicationof said brakes. l

Y 14. A railway car comprising a spring supe y ported body mounted on rail engaging wheels and `the generally Vupwardly facing parts of said l surfaces.l

11. Ina vehicle havinga pluralityofpairs of y axially aligned wheels, axles supporting said head at one end, and a piston rod on said piston of wheels to said piston rod for simultaneously 1 applying said shoes to said Ywheels when uid z is admitted into said cylinder; the said means respectively connecting said'` shoes to said head and to said piston rod `being arranged and l j adapted to apply said brakes when said rod and cylinder are simultaneously moved oppositely.

` wheels, a body, and springs supporting said body Y on said axles; brake shoesl Vfor the wheelsof one l adjacent pair thereof supported on said frame Vlrfor movement finto' frictional engagementk with v said wheels; a cylinder and a piston reciprocable thereon positioned Ybetween said adjacent pairs lof aligned wheels;` said cylinderY having` a 4closed l projecting fromthe opposite end of said cylinder; j `means Asupporting said cylinder for movement l thereof opposite to the direction of movement of said piston rod upon admission of fluid under l pressure into said cylinder between said head and said piston; means connecting the `brake shoes j adjacent one fof saidradjacent pairs oi wheels i to said cylinder, and means connecting the brake e shoes adjacent the other of said adjacentrpairs 12. In a vehiclehaving ya plurality of pairs of *Y on said axles; brake shoes for vthe Wheelspof one adjacent pair thereof Ysupported fon-said frame `for movement into frictional engagement with said wheels; a cylinder and a, piston reciprocable g thereon positioned between said adjacent pairs of i aligned wheels; said cylinder'ghaving 3a closed l head at one end, and a piston rod on saidpiston i projecting from the opposite end of said cylinder; `means supporting said cylinder for movement j thereof Vopposite to the direction of movement of j said piston rod upon 'admission ofriiuid under "axially aligned wheels, axles Supporting said l l wheels, a body, and springs supporting said body airroperated brakes for said wheels including generally reciprocable air pressure Vactuated membersl connected with said brakes; links exl, tending downwardly from saidbody and oonnected to said elements; means mounting said links for downward movement upon reciprocation of said elements under air pressure for applying said brakes whereby said body will be pulled downwardlyr'upon application of said brakes, said links including flexible cables; andthe means mounting said links for said movement including pulleys over Ywhich said Vcablesrextend vat points respectivelypositioned between said elements and said body. Y" e 15.- -A railway car comprising a spring supported body mounted on rail engaging wheels: and air operated brakes forsaid wheels includingY gen-V f erally reciprooable air pressure actuatedmembers connected with said brakes; links extending downwardly from said body and connectedto said elements; means mounting said links for downward movement upon reciprocation of said elements under air pressure for applying saidV brakes whereby said body will be pulled downwardly upon application of said brakes, means at opposite ends of each car connecting said wheels to said body across the said springs for yieldably resisting relative movement of said body and wheels apart while permitting relative move'` ment of said body and wheels toward each upon compression of said springs. Y

other Y 16. In a vehicle 'having a spring supportedbody carried on pairs of,` opposed y body supporting wheels,l brakes for said wheels rrespectively sup-- ported adjacent each of said Wheels forgenerally oscillatory movement to Yand from said wheels, generally reciprocably supported brakeactuating elements connected with said brakes for causing said movementgoi the'brakes upon reciprocation of said elements, a cylinder and piston reciprocable therein respectively connected to saidbrake actuating elements for said causing-reciprocation ofV the latter upon reciprocating theV piston andcylinder relatively bycausing huid pressure.

changes in the cylinder between one of its heads and said piston, means for causing such changes, and a stop member stationary relative t0 certain 0f said elements positioned to limit the movement of the latter in one direction in the event of accidental disconnection of such certain ele` ments with the brakes normally connected therewith.

17. The method of braking a Vehicle of the type having body supporting wheels and a spring supported body carried by said wheels that comprises, applying a frictional resistance to the wheels to stop turning thereof and simultaneously therewith pulling downwardly directly on said body against the resistance of the springs supporting the same, said step of pulling said body downwardly being free from the influence of the torque of the wheels to which said frictional resistance is applied.

18. The method of braking a vehicle of the type having body supp-orting wheels and a spring supported body carried by said wheels that comprises, applying a frictional resistance to the wheels to stop turning thereof and simultaneously therewith pulling downwardly directly on said body against the resistance of the springs supporting the same, said step of pulling said body downwardly being free from the influence of the torque of the wheels to which said frictional resistance is applied, and varying the force of said downward pull in direct proportion to the amount of frictional resistance so applied to said wheels.

19. The method of braking a vehicle of the type having body supporting wheels and a spring supported body carried by said wheels that comprises, applying a frictional resistance to the wheels to stop turning thereof and simultaneously therewith pulling downwardly directly on said body at both ends thereof against the resistance of the springs supporting the same, said step of pulling said body downwardly being free from the inuence of the torque of the wheels to which said frictional resistance is applied.

20. The method of braking a vehicle of the type having body supporting wheels and a spring supported body carried by said wheels that com- 

